Serena surges through

Three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into her sixth US Open final with a 6-1 6-2 win over Sara Errani.

Last Updated: 08/09/12 1:00am

Serena Williams: The Wimbledon and Olympic champion reaches another major final

Three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into her sixth US Open final with a comfortable win over Sara Errani.

Williams, a 14-time grand slam winner, and champion in New York in 1999, 2002 and 2008, proved too strong for the 10th seed, coming through 6-1 6-2 in an hour and four minutes.

The fourth seed will now tackle world number one Victoria Azarenka, who knocked out Maria Sharapova, in Saturday's final at Flushing Meadows.

While her next opponent was forced to come through a tough three-set battle, Williams breezed by the diminutive Errani, a French Open finalist and top-ranked doubles player in the world.

One-sided

The American fired down 38 winners including nine aces, the last of which wrapped up the one-sided victory.

She broke three times in the first set, which was secured in 30 minutes, firing 18 winners to just three and allowing the Italian just five points on her serve.

The second followed a similar pattern, Williams - beaten by Sam Stosur in an ill-tempered final last year - breaking in the first and fifth games to quickly open up a 4-1 advantage.

Errani, the first Italian woman to reach the last four of the US Open, saved a match point in the seventh game. However, Williams finished off proceedings with a second serve ace - her 50th of the tournament in the Big Apple.

"I love playing here. It's always an honour, every time I play here is such a pleasure," said Williams, who was just 17 when she won her first US Open title 13 years ago.

"It's awesome to be back in the final again. I dreamt about this all year and I am really happy. It'll be great to win again, but Victoria also wants it. But hey, I'm the last American standing, so come on guys."